Psalm 130:3-4 "If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared." NKJV

Verse 3 is short (to the point), but anything other than sweet. The 3rd Hebrew word is a form of Shomair followed by two names for God, Ya and Adonai. This verse starts with a critical word, "if".

Let me offer an expanded translation of verse 3. "If You were (hold us) guilty of iniquity, Lord God, who could stand?"

Verse 4 is similar, pithy. "Because, with You, there is forgiveness (pardon) on account of 'you will be feared.'" The Hebrew word for pardon is S'licha; it is the same word we use in modern Hebrew for "excuse me" if we bump into someone by accident.

This Psalm is building toward a destination, but has not yet arrived. At this point we know two things from this Psalm. God hears us and he pardons our iniquities. That is good news that leads to more good news.